SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Fetal vascular malperfusion is associated with poor perinatal outcomes in women with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine the association between fetal vascular malperfusion score and syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness and clinicopathological variables, such as developing preeclampsia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 65 pregnant participants (34 with gestational diabetes mellitus and 31 controls) between January 2019 and January 2022. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed as ≥2 of 4 elevated values on a 3-h, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test. The fetal vascular malperfusion score was evaluated by endothelial CD34 positivity in the villous stroma of the placenta. The association between fetal vascular malperfusion score and syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness with clinicopathological variables in women with gestational diabetes mellitus was evaluated. RESULTS: It was revealed that the gestational diabetes mellitus group had greater fetal vascular malperfusion scores than the control group (gestational diabetes mellitus group fetal vascular malperfusion score: 34.2±9.1 and control group fetal vascular malperfusion score: 26.5±8.7, respectively, p=0.0009). Syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness was correlated with the development of preeclampsia, trophoblast proliferation, and fetal vascular malperfusions (0.3952, p=0.0129; 0.3487, p=0.0211; and 0.4331, p=0.0082, respectively). On the contrary, fetal vascular malperfusions were correlated with the development of preeclampsia, villous edema, and trophoblast proliferation (0.3154, p=0.0343; 0.2922, p=0.4123; and 0.3142, p=0.0355, respectively). CONCLUSION: The gestational diabetes mellitus group displayed significantly higher fetal vascular malperfusion scores and thickening of the syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane than the control group. There is a correlation between developing preeclampsia and the fetal vascular malperfusion scores and the syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness.

Abstract Objective The use of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-containing medium, which is a commercial medium that is used for cultivation of embryos in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, has been suggested to increase the efficiency of this procedure in patients with previous multiple unsuccessful attempts. In this retrospective study, we analyzed GM-CSF-containing embryo culture media compared with traditional culture media in terms of development of embryos, pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy success and live birth rates. Methods This is a prospective case control study conducted in a single center. A total of 131 unexplained infertility patients were included in the study. A cohort of 69 patients whose embryos were cultured in GM-CSF-containing medium and a control group of 62 age-matched patients whose embryos were cultured in conventional Sage One Step medium were included in the study. The major study outcomes were achievement of pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rate at 12 weeks of gestation. Results The pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates of the patients whose embryos were cultured in GM-CSF-containing medium were 39.13% and 36.23%, respectively. These were higher than the rates of the control group, which were 30.65% and 29.03%, respectively, although this difference was not statistically significant. In addition, the 5th-day embryo transfer percentage in the GM-CSF group was higher than in the control group (34.78% versus 27.4%). Conclusion The main findings of our study were that there was no difference between the GM-CSF-enhanced medium and the control group in terms of our major study outcomes. However, blastomere inequality rate and embryo fragmentation rates were lower in the GM-CSF group.

ABSTRACT Background: Exocytosis-related gene variants have been suggested to be associated with externalizing behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to examine VAMP2 26 bp Ins\Del, synaptotagmin XI (Syt11) rs3820594 and 33-bp promoter, Syntaxin 1A (Syn-1A) rs1569061 and SNAP-25 rs1051312 and rs3746544 polymorphisms, their serum levels and their relationship with impulsivity, temperament in individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) and healthy controls (HC). Methods: The study included 107 individuals with AD and 104 HCs. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were studied with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and serum levels with ELISA. Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) were applied. Results: Syn-1A rs1569061 C allele polymorphism was significantly higher in AD group. Syn-1A rs1569061 C allele was associated with 1.5 times increased risk of AD. All serum levels were significantly higher in the HC group. There was a relationship between Syn-1A rs1569061 polymorphism and BIS-11 motor impulsiveness in the AD group; Syt11 rs3820594 polymorphism and BIS-11 total, TEMPS-A depressive, hyperthymia in the HC group. Discussion: In our study, gene variants and serum levels of synaptic vesicle and presynaptic plasma membrane proteins were related to AD, impulsivity and temperament.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: As flutuações dos hormônios sexuais femininos durante o ciclo menstrual influenciam a percepção da dor. A inibição endógena da dor é prejudicada na fase folicular do ciclo menstrual. Testamos a hipótese primária de que cirurgias em mulheres durante a fase folicular têm mais dor aguda e precisam de mais opioide do que aquelas na fase lútea e a hipótese secundária testada foi que as cirurgias em mulheres durante a fase folicular têm mais dor incisional aos três meses de pós-operatório. Métodos: No total, 127 mulheres adultas submetidas à colecistectomia laparoscópica foram randomizadas para serem operadas durante a fase lútea ou folicular de seus ciclos menstruais. Um regime padronizado para anestesia e tratamento da dor foi administrado a todas as pacientes. A dor e o consumo de analgésico foram avaliados na sala de recuperação pós-anestésica e a cada quatro horas nas primeiras 24 horas. Efeitos adversos foram avaliados a cada quatro horas. Os tempo para ingestão oral e deambulação foram registrados. Dor pós-cirúrgica, ansiedade hospitalar, escala de depressão e questionário SF-12 foram avaliados em visitas feitas no primeiro e terceiro meses. Resultados: Não houve diferença nos escores de dor aguda e no consumo de analgésicos durante o período de 24 horas, Escala Visual Analógica em 24 horas foi de 1,5 ± 1,5 cm para o grupo folicular e 1,4 ± 1,7 cm para o grupo lúteo (p = 0,57). A dor persistente no pós-operatório foi significativamente mais prevalente no primeiro e terceiro mês, com incidência de 33% e 32% nas pacientes em fase folicular versus 16% e 12% na fase lútea, respectivamente. A Escala Visual Analógica no primeiro e terceiro mês foi 1,6 ± 0,7 cm e 1,8 ± 0,8 cm no grupo folicular e 2,7 ± 1,3 cm e 2,9 ± 1,7 cm no grupo lúteo (p = 0,02), respectivamente. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relação à ansiedade e à depressão, escore SF-12 em ambos os tempos. Náusea foi mais comum no grupo na fase folicular (p = 0,01) e o tempo para alimentação oral foi menor na fase folicular (5,9 ± 0,9 horas) do que na fase lútea (6,8 ± 1,9 horas, p = 0,02). Conclusões: Embora a dor persistente no pós-operatório tenha sido significativamente mais prevalente no primeiro e no terceiro mês após a cirurgia, a magnitude da dor foi baixa. Nossos resultados não apoiam o agendamento de cirurgias tendo como alvo fases específicas do ciclo menstrual.

Abstract Background and objectives: Fluctuations of female sex hormones during menstrual cycle influence pain perception. Endogenous pain inhibition is impaired in follicular phase of menstrual cycle. We tested the primary hypothesis that the women having surgery during their follicular phase have more acute pain and require higher opioids than those in the luteal phase, and secondarily we tested that women who have surgery during their follicular phase have more incisional pain at 3 month postoperatively. Methods: 127 adult females having laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to have surgery during the luteal or follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Standardized anesthesia and pain management regimen was given to all patients. Pain and analgesic consumption were evaluated in post-anesthesia care unit and every 4 h in the first 24 h. Adverse effects were questioned every 4 h. Time to oral intake and ambulation were recorded. Post-surgical pain, hospital anxiety, depression scale, SF-12 questionnaire were evaluated at 1 and 3 month visits. Results: There was no difference in acute pain scores and analgesic consumption through the 24 h period, Visual Analog Scale at 24 h was 1.5 ± 1.5 cm for follicular group 1.4 ± 1.7 cm for luteal group (p = 0.57). Persistent postoperative pain was significantly more common one and at three month, with an incidence was 33% and 32% in the patients at follicular phase versus 16% and 12% at luteal phase, respectively. The Visual Analog Scale at one and at three month was 1.6 ± 0.7 cm and 1.8 ± 0.8 cm for follicular group and 2.7 ± 1.3 cm and 2.9 ± 1.7 cm in the luteal group (p = 0.02), respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to anxiety and depression, SF-12 scores at either time. Nausea was more common in follicular-phase group (p = 0.01) and oral feeding time was shorter in follicular phase (5.9 ± 0.9 h) than in luteal phase (6.8 ± 1.9 h, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Although persistent postoperative pain was significantly more common one and three months after surgery the magnitude of the pain was low. Our results do not support scheduling operations to target particular phases of the menstrual cycle.

Abstract Background Visual impairment is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders in the affected children and adolescents, but there are only a limited number of studies concerning the mental health characteristics of visually impaired children and adolescents. Objective The aim of this study was to determine levels of loneliness and anxiety in visually impaired children and adolescents, to analyze parenting style perceived by visually impaired children and adolescents, to compare those with typically controls. Methods The study included 40 children and adolescents with visually impairment and 34 control group without visual impairment. Sociodemographic data form, the UCLA loneliness scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children were used in both groups. The parenting Style Scale was used to determine perceived parental attitudes. Results This study found more loneliness and trait anxiety levels in visually impaired children and adolescents compared to the control group. Authoritative parenting style was the most frequent type of parental attitude in the visually impaired group. In visual impairment group, loneliness level was higher in subgroups of authoritative and permissive-indulgent parenting style. However, level of trait anxiety was higher in authoritative parenting style subgroup compared to the control group. Discussion The results of this study showed higher loneliness and anxiety levels in visually impaired children and adolescents. Further studies are needed to determine psychopathological risks in this population.